By John Kim
Pinehurst, NC – U.S. Kids Golf will once again bring the best young players in the world together for their 22nd U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. This championship will be held for the 16th consecutive year in Pinehurst, NC, the home of American Golf and headquarters of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation.
In 2021, 1,400 kids from 42 states and 32 nations will compete. Each championship is organized by age/gender and conducted over three days of competition from July 29th-31st. There are 11 courses involved, with the top 5 finishers rewarded in each event.
“It is incredibly rewarding to see the hard work and dedication pay off for these young players,” said Dan Van Horn, the President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “Not many athletes can say they’ve competed at the highest levels of their sport. This week, all of these kids can say they have.”
Past participants include PGA Tour stars Justin Thomas, Colin Morikawa, Patrick Reed, and Will Zalatoris. Lexi Thompson and Maria Fassi are LPGA stars who have also played in this championship.
Among the highest finishers in the 12-year old championships, 20 boys and 12 girls will get an opportunity to compete in the Van Horn Cup. Teams will be assigned as Red or Blue, and the players will get the chance to play in a Ryder Cup-style format on the iconic Pinehurst No. 4 course.
“The intent is to reward great playing as they graduate out of the World Championship with a really fun event on a bucket-list type golf course,” said Chris Vonderkall, Vice President of U.S. Kids Golf Tournaments. “But don’t discount the competitive nature of these kids and the quality of play you’ll see at the Van Horn Cup. We’ve seen some incredible shots and scores through the years. It really is a celebration of the most talented young players in the world.”
Van Horn emphasizes that the week has a purpose far beyond crowning the best of the best.
“The way this week comes together is truly special. The volunteers and the community support are incredible. And every player and family will remember the events of the week regardless of where they finish on the leaderboard. Additionally, every player here serves as an aspirational role model for some young players back in their local area, working hard to play in this championship one day. It’s certainly one of the most inspirational weeks in all of youth sports, and we’re honored to play our part in making sure it’s a great one.”
About U.S. Kids Golf
Founded in 1996, U.S. Kids Golf is the world’s leader in golf for young players. The company serves every aspect of golf for kids, including offering award-winning products, hosting the most tournaments, and training golf professionals globally in best practices for player development. In equipment, the company offers three distinct systems of clubs in up to 10 sizes. These products have revolutionized junior golf, perfecting fitting clubs for growing bodies and eliminating the need for cut-down adult models. The U.S. Kids Foundation, founded in 2000, now hosts more than 1600 tournaments globally – including the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship held annually in Pinehurst, N.C. The World Championship was the subject of the popular Netflix documentary “The Short Game.” The U.S. Kids Golf Coaches Institute includes over 1800 active trained professionals around the world. The Foundation also owns and operates Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, N.C., a “Living Laboratory” of golf’s best practices and newest ideas to make golf a better game for everyone. Since 2018, U.S. Kids Golf has been honored by the National Golf Foundation as one of the “Top 100 Businesses in Golf” based on influence, innovation, and social good, among other criteria.
